probably our most toxic thing besides snakes and other sea creatures like the blue ring octopus, but from what i can tell they’re a more common thing to get stung by.

they’re a relative of the pufferfish. search what they look like. they just look like a bumpy rock with a grumpy face. hence the name. apparently they’re even decently camouflaged lying on the beach, and they can go all day out of the water. so they’re impossible to spot underwater unless it’s very clear, and you know what to look for.

they have “13 sharp strong dorsal fin spines“, and just lie in wait. i assume it catches prey like this but it’s also perfectly adapted to going right up into a human foot. i’ve never been to a beach where they’re common but i was still warned about them in school. from the queensland museum website “The pain is immediate, excruciating and may last for many days. Muscular
paralysis, breathing difficulties, shock, and sometimes heart failure
and death can ensue”. it needs immediate hospitalisation (although, apparently, wikipedia says hot water at 45 degrees can neutralise the venom, but still go to hospital holy shit don’t rely on wikipedia for your antivenom needs)

so like, you’ll usually live, but you’ll definitely be on crutches for a few months because it just fucks up the muscles in your foot. but the pain. i’m 100% every website is understating how much it hurts, because everyone i talk to whose seen someone after being stung by a stonefish will still wince when they talk about it.